Educational Science

King Tut Related to Half of European Men? Maybe Not

A personal genomics company in Switzerland says they've reconstructed a DNA profile of King Tutankhamen by watching the Discovery Channel, claiming the results suggest more than half of Western European men are related to the boy king. But researchers who worked to decode Tut's genome in the first place say...

Virtual Sleuths to Unmask Online Villains

Nasty Internet bots can impersonate humans to tirelessly win money in online poker games or talk unwary chat users into clicking on click fraud links. But weeding out such devious artificial intelligence isn't as easy as spotting Agent Smith in his dark suit, tie and sunglasses from The Matrix. Instead,...

Gratitude and optimism may be a key to managing depression, a new review of relevant research finds. Called positive activity interventions (PAIs), the treatment involves intentional positive behaviors and thoughts, such as performing acts of kindness, expressing gratitude, meditating on positive feelings toward others and using one's signature strengths. Although...

Gigantic Birds Trod Earth During Age of Dinosaurs

An enormous bird, taller than an adult human, walked the Earth (and maybe flew above it) more than 80 million years ago, according a newly discovered fossilized jaw. The finding suggests oversize birds were more common during the Age of Dinosaurs than scientists thought. Scientists have long known that birds,...

True Colors of Ancient Beetles Revealed

Even after being locked in rock for millions of years, some ancient beetle fossils retain a metallic rainbow sheen. But a new study finds that these bugs undergo changes during fossilization that makes them look slightly redder than they did in life. Beetles flash some of the most intense colors...

Ig Nobel Prize Winners Make Hilarious Contributions to Science

Intro (Image credit: Improbable Research)Every year in Norway, Nobel Prizes are awarded to scientists who have made outstanding contributions to human knowledge. Also every year, but at a far less formal ceremony in Cambridge, Mass., Ig Nobel Prizes are given to scientists who have made outstanding, but also hilarious, contributions...

Tips for Parents of the iGeneration

How does a parent best raise a teen growing in a culture of constant communication they just don't understand? Kids are still kids, and kids need parents. Good parenting is linked to everything good all the way though your life, said Larry Rosen, a researcher at California State University and...

Presidential Approval Ratings (Infographic)

Top 10 Ailing Presidents10 Historically Significant Political ProtestsAncient Lefties: The History of Obama's Handedness ...

Top 10 Cancer-Fighting Foods

Foods Associated with a Lower Cancer Risk (Image credit: Tom Tomczyk | shutterstock)The countless books and news articles about cancer-fighting foods might lead you to think you can ward off this dreaded disease simply by eating better. Alas, it's not that simple. Anytime you see a headline stating Cure...

The Greatest Mysteries of Saturn's Moons

Each week this summer, Life's Little Mysteries presents The Greatest Mysteries of the Cosmos, starting with the coolest stuff in our solar system. The space around Saturn is a busy place. In addition to the planet's giant rings, more than 60 known moons zip about the world. Some moons actually...